Where do you find condensation?
It can be found on and adjacent to windows, in the corners and edges of rooms and behind or inside wardrobes and cupboards, especially if they are against an external wall.
Are my damp symptoms caused by condensation?
Not all dampness is caused by condensation, sometimes damp can be as a result of:
- Leaking internal or external pipes
- Roof leaks caused by broken, missing or faulty tiles, guttering or chimney flashings
- Rising damp because of a defective damp proof course or faulty rendering, mortar joints or blocked cavities.
Dampness of this nature will often result in a ‘tide mark’ and can occur at any time of the year.
What are the causes of condensation?
There are three main causes of condensation:
- Too much moisture production in your home
- Insufficient ventilation
- Cool temperatures.
Everyday activities such as cooking, washing, drying clothes indoors, using portable gas and paraffin heaters, topping up fish tanks etc. add to the existing moisture already present in the air.
If you think that your home is suffering from one of the above defects please report it using the form below. Please provide as much detail as possible and upload any pictures you may have.
You can also get in touch with one of our advisors on 0345 065 5656 to arrange an inspection.
How to reduce condensation
Everyday activities such as cooking, washing, drying clothes indoors, using portable gas and paraffin heaters, topping up fish tanks etc. add to the existing moisture already present in the air.
There are three main ways you can reduce condensation in your home:
- Reduce moisture levels
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Ordinary daily activities can produce a lot of moisture quite quickly. Some steps you can take to reduce moisture production in your home are:
- Cover boiling pans when cooking and use extractor fans if fitted
- Ensure tumble dryers are properly vented to the outside
- Dry clothes outside, or where this is not possible, in the bathroom with the door closed and windows open, or extractor fan turned on
- Do you have a tropical fish tank that regularly requires topping up with water? The water that has evaporated from the tank has added to the moisture level of the air within your home. You could consider fitting a lid
- If you are running a bath, put the cold water in first to reduce the amount of steam
- Close kitchen and bathroom doors to stop water vapour moving to other parts of the house.
- Increase ventilation
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Increasing ventilation will prevent moisture laden air from being trapped in your home. One action that could be taken is as simple as opening a window. If you have trickle vents fitted to your windows, try to keep them open as much as possible too, especially in rooms you always use.
Move furniture away from the walls slightly to allow air to circulate behind them.
It’s better to provide ventilation at the point where moisture is produced.
- Raise the temperature
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The best way to heat your home is through steady background heating left on throughout the day. This is because warmer air can hold more moisture; as the temperature of the walls increase, the possibility of condensation forming on them is reduced. It is the repeated fluctuation of room temperatures that allows mould to appear. Each time the room cools down the moisture in the air settles onto the cold surfaces, which in turn never get a chance to dry out fully.
Try to heat the whole house rather than just one room. Remember, as the temperature of the walls of the property is increased, the likelihood of condensation forming is reduced.
Once the steps listed have been taken you should find the condensation problems reduce. However, any existing mould will not just disappear, it will need to be washed off and treated with a fungicidal wash (generally available in supermarkets and DIY stores) alternatively, you could use diluted bleach. It is important you follow the manufacturer’s instructions for health and safety information to enable you to use the products safely.
